“Being active carries risks for us,” says Sahar A.* And yet the Iranian woman can no longer be silent. A demonstration against the Iranian regime will take place in Zurich on Saturday afternoon. A. is one of the organizers of the rally.
The woman, who does not want to be named, assumes that the protests in Switzerland are also controlled by the Islamic regime. She worries about spies taking pictures of the protesters. So the demo needs courage. But: “Even braver are those who are now taking to the streets in Iran.”
For about a month, people in Iran have taken to the streets to protest. The protests were triggered by the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini (22). She was arrested by the police for not wearing her headscarf properly. The young woman died in police custody a short time later. Since then, thousands across the country have been demonstrating against the Iranian government. The protest also finds support in Switzerland.
It’s about much more than the headscarf
The demands of “Free Iran Switzerland” are primarily aimed at Swiss politicians. For example, Switzerland will take over EU and US sanctions against Iran and summon the Iranian ambassador to Bern. They also demand that the so-called Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian army, be classified as a terrorist organization. “There must finally be a shock in politics. So far we’ve only heard lukewarm words,” said Sahar A. The 39-year-old has relatives herself in Iran and is in regular contact with them. However, she quickly pushes away from videos showing direct violence against the protesters. other four co-organizers who would be concerned would feel the same way.
When the woman thinks about the future, she thinks positively: “The protest affects all age groups in Iran, it is now about more than the headscarf, but about freedom and democracy. There is a lot of hope everywhere. I hope it works this time.” However, she is also concerned about the increasing police brutality against the protesters.
*Name changed